Basic concepts and clinical findings in the treatment of seizure disorders with EEG operant conditioning. 2000

M B Sterman
Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles 90085-1763, USA.

Two issues concerning sensorimotor EEG operant conditioning, or biofeedback, as a therapeutic modality for the treatment of seizure disorders are the focus of this review. The first relates to the question of whether relevant physiological changes are associated with this procedure. This question is addressed through review of an extensive neurophysiological literature that is likely unfamiliar to many clinicians but that documents both immediate and sustained functional changes that are consistent with elevation of seizure thresholds. The second focuses on the clinical efficacy of this method and whether it should carry the designation of "experimental". This designation is challenged through an assessment of over 25 years of peer-reviewed research demonstrating impressive EEG and clinical results achieved with the most difficult subset of seizure patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009482 Neurophysiology The scientific discipline concerned with the physiology of the nervous system.
D003216 Conditioning, Operant Learning situations in which the sequence responses of the subject are instrumental in producing reinforcement. When the correct response occurs, which involves the selection from among a repertoire of responses, the subject is immediately reinforced. Instrumental Learning,Learning, Instrumental,Operant Conditioning,Conditionings, Operant,Instrumental Learnings,Learnings, Instrumental,Operant Conditionings
D004569 Electroencephalography Recording of electric currents developed in the brain by means of electrodes applied to the scalp, to the surface of the brain, or placed within the substance of the brain. EEG,Electroencephalogram,Electroencephalograms
D004827 Epilepsy A disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns (e.g., nocturnal epilepsy). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p313) Aura,Awakening Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder,Epilepsy, Cryptogenic,Auras,Cryptogenic Epilepsies,Cryptogenic Epilepsy,Epilepsies,Epilepsies, Cryptogenic,Epilepsy, Awakening,Seizure Disorders
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000927 Anticonvulsants Drugs used to prevent SEIZURES or reduce their severity. Anticonvulsant,Anticonvulsant Drug,Anticonvulsive Agent,Anticonvulsive Drug,Antiepileptic,Antiepileptic Agent,Antiepileptic Agents,Antiepileptic Drug,Anticonvulsant Drugs,Anticonvulsive Agents,Anticonvulsive Drugs,Antiepileptic Drugs,Antiepileptics,Agent, Anticonvulsive,Agent, Antiepileptic,Agents, Anticonvulsive,Agents, Antiepileptic,Drug, Anticonvulsant,Drug, Anticonvulsive,Drug, Antiepileptic,Drugs, Anticonvulsant,Drugs, Anticonvulsive,Drugs, Antiepileptic
D001676 Biofeedback, Psychology The therapy technique of providing the status of one's own AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM function (e.g., skin temperature, heartbeats, brain waves) as visual or auditory feedback in order to self-control related conditions (e.g., hypertension, migraine headaches). Biofeedback (Psychology),Bogus Physiological Feedback,False Physiological Feedback,Feedback, Psychophysiologic,Biofeedback,Feedback, Psychophysiological,Myofeedback,Psychophysiologic Feedback,Biofeedbacks,Biofeedbacks (Psychology),Biofeedbacks, Psychology,Bogus Physiological Feedbacks,False Physiological Feedbacks,Feedback, Bogus Physiological,Feedback, False Physiological,Feedbacks, Bogus Physiological,Feedbacks, False Physiological,Myofeedbacks,Physiological Feedback, Bogus,Physiological Feedback, False,Physiological Feedbacks, Bogus,Physiological Feedbacks, False,Psychology Biofeedback,Psychology Biofeedbacks
D012815 Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted Computer-assisted processing of electric, ultrasonic, or electronic signals to interpret function and activity. Digital Signal Processing,Signal Interpretation, Computer-Assisted,Signal Processing, Digital,Computer-Assisted Signal Interpretation,Computer-Assisted Signal Interpretations,Computer-Assisted Signal Processing,Interpretation, Computer-Assisted Signal,Interpretations, Computer-Assisted Signal,Signal Interpretation, Computer Assisted,Signal Interpretations, Computer-Assisted,Signal Processing, Computer Assisted
D013003 Somatosensory Cortex Area of the parietal lobe concerned with receiving sensations such as movement, pain, pressure, position, temperature, touch, and vibration. It lies posterior to the central sulcus. Brodmann Area 1,Brodmann Area 2,Brodmann Area 3,Brodmann Areas 1, 2, 3,Brodmann Areas 1, 2, and 3,Brodmann Areas 3, 1, 2,Brodmann Areas 3, 1, and 2,Brodmann's Area 1,Brodmann's Area 2,Brodmann's Area 3,Brodmann's Areas 1, 2, and 3,Brodmann's Areas 3, 1, and 2,Parietal-Opercular Cortex,Primary Somesthetic Area,S1 Cortex,S2 Cortex,SII Cortex,Anterior Parietal Cortex,Gyrus Postcentralis,Post Central Gyrus,Postcentral Gyrus,Primary Somatic Sensory Area,Primary Somatosensory Area,Primary Somatosensory Areas,Primary Somatosensory Cortex,SI Cortex,Second Somatic Sensory Area,Secondary Sensory Cortex,Secondary Somatosensory Area,Secondary Somatosensory Cortex,Area 1, Brodmann,Area 1, Brodmann's,Area 2, Brodmann,Area 2, Brodmann's,Area 3, Brodmann,Area 3, Brodmann's,Area, Primary Somatosensory,Area, Primary Somesthetic,Area, Secondary Somatosensory,Areas, Primary Somatosensory,Brodmanns Area 1,Brodmanns Area 2,Brodmanns Area 3,Cortex, Anterior Parietal,Cortex, Parietal-Opercular,Cortex, Primary Somatosensory,Cortex, S1,Cortex, S2,Cortex, SI,Cortex, SII,Cortex, Secondary Sensory,Cortex, Secondary Somatosensory,Cortex, Somatosensory,Gyrus, Post Central,Gyrus, Postcentral,Parietal Cortex, Anterior,Parietal Opercular Cortex,Parietal-Opercular Cortices,Primary Somatosensory Cortices,Primary Somesthetic Areas,S1 Cortices,S2 Cortices,SII Cortices,Secondary Somatosensory Areas,Sensory Cortex, Secondary,Somatosensory Area, Primary,Somatosensory Area, Secondary,Somatosensory Areas, Primary,Somatosensory Cortex, Primary,Somatosensory Cortex, Secondary,Somesthetic Area, Primary,Somesthetic Areas, Primary
D013787 Thalamic Nuclei Several groups of nuclei in the thalamus that serve as the major relay centers for sensory impulses in the brain. Nuclei, Thalamic

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